06 December, 2014

LAGOS APC CRISIS DEEPENS AS AMBODE PLEADS FOR SUPPORT

G11 meets, keeps mum on battle strategy
Eleven aspirants that lost on Thursday to Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries met on Friday to plan their next line of action against the exercise which they complained about before its conduct.
They did not brief the press after the meeting but Saturda
y Tribune obtained insider details of their discussion.
It was gathered that their main grouse about the exercise was the number of the delegates which they alleged exceeded what it should be.
The aspirants had kicked against the processes leading to the exercise, with particular focus on the delegate list which was allegedly not released to them until the early hours of Thursday.

An insider told Saturday Tribune that the failed aspirants believed that despite the alleged manipulation of the processes leading to the exercise, reportedly primed to favour Ambode, the election could have gone the way of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat if the delegate number had not been allegedly “spiced” up.
One of them said even if the delegates from the 37 LCDAs were to be countenanced as constitutional, the entire number should be 4,000, instead of over 6,000 votes recorded in the exercise.
The party’s electoral panel headed by former Edo State deputy governor, Peter Obadan, had said in his speech at the event that only delegates from the constitutionally-recognised 20 local government areas in the state would participate in the exercise.
“Without fake delegates, Hamzat would still have won the exercise. Hamzat would have been the lawful winner. That is the starting point for our struggle, beginning from this moment,” the source disclosed after the meeting,” he said.
Saturday Tribune was told that the meeting resolved to take the contentious issues up with both the party’s national leadership, while the pending court cases would be given needed boost.
The possibility of the aspirants going to court to challenge the exercise was also said to be on the card.
Accelerated hearing would also be demanded of the suits challenging the exercise, since they must be disposed of before the February 2015 general elections.
Ambode was the anointed of Senator Bola Tinubu while Governor Babatunde Fashola reportedly backed both Supo Shashore and Hamzat for religious considerations.
Ambode calls for suport from other aspirants
Meanwhile, Ambode has stretched a hand of fellowship to the aspirants that lost to him.
In his acceptance speech, he begged them to join him in taking the state to a new height.
According to him, “My fellow Lagosians, it is with a deep sense of gratitude and humility that I accept this ticket to run as the flag bearer of our great party, APC in the 2015 gubernatorial elections. This victory was made possible by you the people through the delegates. And to my fellow contestants, I have nothing but commendation and respect for putting up a good contest.
“I congratulate all aspirants on the keen contest. I extend my hand of fellowship and ask you to join me, in not only winning the general election in February 2015 but to continue to build the tradition of excellence in governance that our party has come to be associated with in Lagos State. The success of this primary and the victory that has come out of it is not just for me, but for all of us that stepped into the water. It is a victory for Lagosians and for democracy.
“I thank all the delegates, over 5,000 of you who voted according to your consciences. For once, you did not waver in your faith in the process put in place by our great party, APC. To the state party executive and the national officers, I extend my appreciation for the long hours and the experience invested in this exercise. The orderliness, the transparency of the process and the spirit of sportsmanship devoid of bitterness that characterised this process signpost a better future for our democracy.
“Our party has demonstrated to all that we are a party of great minds and democratic ideals. The flag of the party that you have handed over to me, I accept with a deep sense of history, knowing fully well that Lagos deserves nothing but the best in terms of good governance and dynamic development. We have a legacy to build upon. We have a challenge to meet and speedily too. The responsibility belongs to all of us. Let us put aside the disappointment of yesterday and embrace the opportunity of today. Not forgetting that the future begins today. We must never forget that the future of Lagos is bigger than the summation of our ambitions.
“After this victory, we must move quickly to retain the party APC in the column of the progressives. The task ahead is daunting, but surmountable. We have only just commenced the first phase of the execution of our political agenda. The next phase beckons. We must all work together to usher APC back into power in Lagos state.
“On my part, I promise never to waiver nor fail. I promise to energise and mobilise our teeming supporters in the next phase of this struggle. I put myself to the task, knowing fully well that the foundation laid must never be destroyed but built upon. I commit to the continuation of excellence and the uplifment of the lives of all Lagosians.
“I thank you and God Bless Lagos State.”

Source: Tribune

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